CANELO ALVAREZ remains super-middleweight champion of the world after brutally stopping Billy Joe Saunders in round eight of their Texas clash.
Saunders corner pulled him out of the fight following a horror eye injury, with promoter Eddie Hearn even suggesting that the Brit could RETIRE.
It has now been revealed Saunders suffered a fractured eye socket from an uppercut and was taken to hospital for checks.
Claim more than £800 in bonus cash and 350 free spins
The bout took place over at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas with 73,000 fans in attendance.
Follow ALL of the latest reaction and updates below…
WHAT CAN HE DO?
As seems to always be the case with Canelo, the question has now shifted to what next for the Mexican superstar?
SunSport looks at five names who the four-weight champion could potentially face next.
Click here to see the list.
CAN ANYONE STOP CANELO?
Canelo’s a four-weight world champion and has lost to just one man in his professional career – Floyd Mayweather.
Can anyone stop the Mexican star?
ICYMI – ANDRADE CRASHES CANELO PRESSER
Canelo Alvarez was confronted by middleweight rival Demetrius Andrade in an X-rated altercation following the Mexican’s win over Saunders.
Andrade interrupted the presser by saying: “So when can we get something going on? Let’s make it happen. What’s up Canelo? Congratulations today though, good job baby, good job.
“I’m a big fan… but what’s up though? When can we make it happen? What you think?”
Canelo responded: “I know [you’re a fan]. Man, you fight with nobody. You are a champion but you fight with nobody. You won the belt with nobody.”
Andrade then questioned Canelo’s recent resume, before the American’s dad accused the Mexican of ‘avoiding’ his son.
This appeared to rile Alvarez who aggressively shouted: “Get the f**k out of here man. Please, get the f**k out of here. It’s my night.”
Andrade’s father then yelled: “Don’t you say to him to get out here. F**k you. Go ahead, come. Come. F**k you.”
And Andrade said: “Don’t swear at me. Don’t talk to my dad like that. I’ll f**k you up. I just asked you a simple question. What you gonna do? You tough? Watch your mouth bro. I congratulated you bro, watch your mouth.”
To which Alvarez said: “Hey, get the f**k out of here because I’m gonna f**k you up right now motherf**r. Hey, get the f**k out of here.
“Hey, you are a horrible fighter man. You never won against a good fighter. You are a horrible fighter. Horrible fighter. Just pay day, pay day, you want pay day, I know that.”
Andrade was then escorted from the room, but not before he could get the final word by saying: “Come beat me little b***h. When I see you, it’s on.”
Canelo Alvarez confronted by Demetrius Andrade in X-rated row during press conference after win over Billy Joe Saunders
WHO’S NEXT FOR CANELO?
DAZN asked their followers who Canelo Alvarez should fight next – and there were some interesting responses.
Most believe the Mexican should fight IBF champion Caleb Plant, who holds the only super middleweight belt missing from Canelo’s collection.
Some want to see a rematch against Billy Joe Saunders – if the Brit can recover from his horrific eye injury.
There were calls for a trilogy fight with Gennady Golovkin, although the Kazakhstani would need to make the step up from middleweight.
Others, meanwhile, want to see Canelo take on unified light middleweight champ Jermell Charlo.
And there’s talk of a scrap with Demetrius Andrade after the middleweight crashed Canelo’s post-fight press conference.
There was even one gent who offered to fight the Mexican himself!
CARL OF DUTY
Elsewhere in boxing, Carl Froch has ACCEPTED an exhibition fight with Roy Jones Jr, who is nine-years his senior.
Jones has been left furious with Froch, who called the American ‘totally shot to bits’ by the time Joe Calzaghe beat him in 2008 aged 39.
Froch told SecondsOut: “Well, you never know do you?
“If we’ve got the same sort of format that he had with Mike Tyson, I’d be open to that. I really would.
“I wouldn’t get in there with a 12, three-minute fight against a current world champion, because it wouldn’t be right.
“I’d have to be stupid to think I could compete at that level, I retired for a reason.
“But eight, two-minute rounds against the right dance partner, to share the ring with a legend, an all-time great like Roy Jones Jr, just that would be amazing.”
CANELO LOVES THE BRITS
Following his TKO against Billy Joe Saunders, Canelo Alvarez now has seven victories against British opponents.
The Mexican has also defeated Matthew Hatton, Ryan Rhodes, Amir Khan, Liam Smith, Rocky Fielding and Callum Smith.
CANELO’S HIT
A reminder of the punch that ended proceedings in Texas.
Canelo’s brutal uppercut has left Saunders needing surgery to fix his broken eye socket.
It’s going to be a long time before we see Billy Joe back in the ring – and it could be the case that he never fights again.
SAUNDERS DAD GETS TACKLED
A disturbing video has been published on social media of Billy Joe Saunders’ dad getting tackled by security.
Tom Saunders, standing alongside heavyweight champ Tyson Fury, jumped the barriers to check on his son after he suffered an awful eye injury.
He was tackled by security as he made his way to the ring, triggering a mass brawl.
Here’s the footage…
TY IN THE SKY
Tyson Fury sent out a classy message to Billy Joe Saunders as he flew back on a private jet to continue his preparations to fight Anthony Joshua.
The WBC heavyweight champion was in Texas to support close friend Billy Joe Saunders, who fought pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez.
But it ended in heartbreak for Saunders, who was pulled out after round eight with a suspected broken eye socket.
There was no shame in the defeat and Fury hailed his friend for trying to shock the world.
He posted on social media: “We thank god for everything and everyone around us, after a great week in Texas with @bjsaunders_ we now keep on moving forward in this journey through life, ‘In God we trust’.
“People love to hate on others willing to chase there (sic) dreams, @bjsaunders_ tried to be great last night!
“It wasn’t his night but at least he had the bottle to follow his dreams & heart Red heart, he will always be my bro Smiling face with sunglasses we go back to 15/16, what a night to remember in #30years dallas.”
Credit: Instagram / @gypsyking101
MORNING BOXING FANS
Billy Joe Saunders underwent eye surgery yesterday on the shattered orbital bone he sustained in his defeat to Canelo Alvarez.
Eddie Hearn tweeted to confirm the Brit was going under the knife after he was taken straight to hospital after the stoppage.
Several high-profile boxing names – including Chris Eubank Jr – criticised Saunders for his withdrawal but British welterweight Ohara Davies said it was the right thing to do given the quality of his opponent.
He tweeted: “Some people are comparing Billy Joe’s injury to Daniel Dunois or to Ebanie Bridges eye, they both done very well to fight on despite their injuries, but surely having one Eye against Canelo Alvarez is Different than having one eye against Joe Joyce or Shannon Courtney.”
After the fight, Canelo was confronted by middleweight rival Demetrius Andrade in an X-rated altercation.
Andrade interrupted the post-fight press conference by saying: “So when can we get something going on? Let’s make it happen.
What’s up Canelo? Congratulations today though, good job baby, good job.
“I’m a big fan… but what’s up though? When can we make it happen? What you think?”
Canelo responded: “I know [you’re a fan]. Man, you fight with nobody. You are a champion but you fight with nobody. You won the belt with nobody.”
Andrade then questioned Canelo’s recent resume, before the American’s dad accused the Mexican of ‘avoiding’ his son.
This appeared to rile Alvarez who aggressively shouted: “Get the f** out of here man. Please, get the f*** out of here. It’s my night.”
Andrade’s father then yelled: “Don’t you say to him to get out here. F*** you. Go ahead, come. Come. F*** you.”
And Andrade said: “Don’t swear at me. Don’t talk to my dad like that. I’ll f*** you up. I just asked you a simple question. What you gonna do? You tough? Watch your mouth bro. I congratulated you bro, watch your mouth.”
To which Alvarez said: “Hey, get the f*** out of here because I’m gonna f*** you up right now motherf***er. Hey, get the f*** out of here.
“Hey, you are a horrible fighter man. You never won against a good fighter. You are a horrible fighter. Horrible fighter. Just pay day, pay day, you want pay day, I know that.”
Andrade was then escorted from the room, but not before he could get the final word by saying: “Come beat me little b***h. When I see you, it’s on.”
GRACIAS AFICIONADOS
Canelo Alvarez has thanked his fans around the world who supported him during his victory over Billy Joe Saunders last night.
The Mexican stopped the Brit by shattering his eye socket and he took to Twitter tonight to express his gratitude to those who backed him.
ED-ING IN TO SURGERY
Billy Joe Saunders is undergoing surgery on his eye socket, according to Eddie Hearn.
The Brit had his orbital bone smashed by Canelo Alvarez overnight in his defeat to the Mexican.
And the Matchroom promoter updated fans on his current state.
CAN-NOT COMPARE
British welterweight Ohara Davies has had his say on Billy Joe Saunders’ eye injury during his defeat to Canelo last night.
Saunders withdrew with a shattered eye socket and boxing fans were quick to compare it to other similar incidents.
Both Ebanie Bridges and Daniel Dubois sustained eye problems in recent fights but Davies reckons the quality of Saunders’ opponent means you can’t compare.
EU GOTTA BE KIDDING!
Chris Eubank Junior pulled no punches after his old foe Billy Joe Saunders’ corner pulled him out of his fight against Canelo.
Eubank took to social media to hit out at the Brit and suggested he would not have ‘quit’ if he was in the same situation.
MORE, MORE, MORE!
Canelo Alvarez continued on his path to greatness with his stoppage win over Billy Joe Saunders overnight.
Many had tipped the Brit to put a stop to the Mexican’s phenomenal run.
But after Canelo smashed his eye socket to pieces, Saunders’ corner decided to pull him out and the South American marched on.
CLASS IS PERMANENT
Canelo Alvarez took time to taunt Billy Joe Saunders as he forced a stoppage in Dallas overnight.
The Mexican smashed up the Brit’s eye socket forcing his corner to throw in the towel.
And this snap as good as summed up the evening’s events.
BUILDING BRIDGES
Ebanie Bridges has offered her support to Billy Joe Saunders having initially questioned the severity of his eye injury following his defeat to Canelo Alvarez.
The British star, 31, was forced to throw in the towel shortly before the ninth round against his superb Mexican opponent on Saturday following a brutal uppercut which fractured his eye socket.
The Blonde Bomber, 34, initially tweeted: “Don’t tell me he stopped cos of his eye……” But after receiving a backlash from boxing fans, Bridges took to Instagram to throw her support behind Saunders – who was rushed to hospital following his loss to Canelo and could even be forced to retire.
Bridges wrote: “I Defs wasn’t in there with canelo, but I was in a lot of pain and I couldn’t see for 3 rounds…
“I went to emergency after the fight as everyone suspected a break but luckily for me there was no breaks. At first I was like wtf why they stopping the fight cos it didn’t look that bad….
“But I do feel for @saundersbillyjoe I thought he was Defs in the fight, I’m sure he would of liked to continue, the corner did their job. It might not look as bad as mine looked on the outside but I’m sure it’s very serious.”
TRASH TALK
Canelo was confronted by middleweight rival Demetrius Andrade in an X-rated altercation following the Mexican’s win over Saunders.
Andrade interrupted the presser by saying: “So when can we get something going on? Let’s make it happen. What’s up Canelo? Congratulations today though, good job baby, good job.
“I’m a big fan… but what’s up though? When can we make it happen? What you think?”
Canelo responded: “I know [you’re a fan]. Man, you fight with nobody. You are a champion but you fight with nobody. You won the belt with nobody.”
Andrade then questioned Canelo’s recent resume, before the American’s dad accused the Mexican of ‘avoiding’ his son.
This appeared to rile Alvarez who aggressively shouted: “Get the f**k out of here man. Please, get the f**k out of here. It’s my night.”
Andrade’s father then yelled: “Don’t you say to him to get out here. F**k you. Go ahead, come. Come. F**k you.”
And Andrade said: “Don’t swear at me. Don’t talk to my dad like that. I’ll f**k you up. I just asked you a simple question. What you gonna do? You tough? Watch your mouth bro. I congratulated you bro, watch your mouth.”
To which Alvarez said: “Hey, get the f**k out of here because I’m gonna f**k you up right now motherf**r. Hey, get the f**k out of here.
“Hey, you are a horrible fighter man. You never won against a good fighter. You are a horrible fighter. Horrible fighter. Just pay day, pay day, you want pay day, I know that.”
Andrade was then escorted from the room, but not before he could get the final word by saying: “Come beat me little b***h. When I see you, it’s on.”
Canelo Alvarez confronted by Demetrius Andrade in X-rated row during press conference after win over Billy Joe SaundersTHE RESULTS
Here’s a reminder of last night’s results if you’re just joining us.
- Canelo Alvarez defeated Billy Joe Saunders (TKO)
- Elwin Soto defeated Katsunari Takayama (TKO)
- Souleymane Cissokho defeated Kieron Conway (SD)
- Frank Sanchez defeated Nagy Aguilera (TKO)
- Marc Castro defeated Irving Macias Castillo (TKO)
- Keyshawn Davis defeated Jose Antonio Meza (UD)
- Christian Alan Gomez Duran defeated Xavier Wilson (TKO)
- Kelvin Davis defeated Jan Marsalek (UD)
EYE SPY
Saunders faces a long and painful route back IF he decides to carry on boxing after Canelo shattered his face and dreams.
That’s the verdict of SunSport’s Wally Downes Jr – click here to read more.
Credit: AP:Associated Press MORE THAN 73,000 IN ATTENDANCE
There was more than 73,000 fans inside the AT&T Stadium for the Canelo/Saunders bout.
That’s around 23,000 more than the Canelo/Smith fight attracted in 2016.
FURY LOVES TO DANCE
Tyson Fury was backing fellow Brit Billy Joe Saunders to be victorious last night and will be gutted his mate didn’t manage to win.
But at least the heavyweight champ had fun at the weigh in.
EU FANCY IT?
Chris Eubank Jr has called out Canelo Alvarez after the Mexican defeated the Brit with a brutal uppercut.
The 31-year-old lost a middleweight bout to Billy Joe Saunders in 2014.
WORLD CHAMP PUNDITRY
Newly crowned flyweight IBF Sunny Edwards knew exactly what Billy Joe Saunders should and shouldn’t do.
The little mastermind should have been in his corner…
CANELO WAS WINNING
DAZN have released the judges scorecards for the fight between Canelo and Saunders.
Canelo ended the contest with a brutal uppercut in the eighth round – but, according to the scorecards, he was winning the bout anyway.
Here’s the proof…
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
